Services: Adult Program

The Adult DBT Program is designed for clients ranging in age from 18 to 75 years and is provided in strict adherence with the DBT model developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan to provide all clients with the most effective treatment available for people struggling with difficulties dealing with and regulating emotions. This program involves the following types of treatments.

Individual Therapy

Clients participating in the Adult DBT Program receive weekly to bi-weekly individual therapy from a skilled clinician who is committed to helping clients develop a life worth living. Treatment may focus on stopping suicidal and self-harming behaviours, making sure therapy works as well as possible, and helping clients reach their goals and solve problems that interfere with leading a happy, productive life.

Group Skills Training

In addition to individual therapy, clients participating in the adult program receive group skills training once a week for 6 months to 1 year. The skills training group, designed much like a class, is in place to help clients learn skills that are important for managing your attention (mindfulness skills), managing and coping with your emotions (emotion regulation skills), dealing effectively with interpersonal situations (interpersonal effectiveness skills), and tolerating emotional distress (distress tolerance skills).

Telephone Consultation

Individual DBT therapists are available to clients in-between sessions for telephone calls. These calls are designed to provide as much assistance as possible and build adaptive coping behaviours in difficult situations. They can be used to teach new skills, strengthen existing skills, and help clients better generalize DBT to the world around them.

Therapist Consultation

DBT therapists meet weekly to discuss cases, and to provide the supervision, training, and support required to be effective therapists. This “Consultation Team” is like therapy for the therapists and is there to help clinicians monitor the quality of services provided and be the best therapists they can be.

Ancillary Treatments

In addition to providing the above services, we also work with clients and area providers to help ensure that clients have access to any additional treatments that they might need, such as psychiatric or case management services.